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Protecting Your Property

2/9/2023 (Permalink)

Winter Safety Tips

With the colder weather upon us, it is important to be prepared to avoid damage to your home and/or business. Cold weather can wreak havoc and cause costly damages. Whether it is heavy rain, sleet or snow, freezing temperatures, or damaging winds, all can cause major property destruction. Although the weather is up to Mother Nature alone, you can take the steps to be prepared and risk bigger damage with the winter weather.

To help prevent damages related to the weather, there are a few safety precautions one can take such as:

  • Check your home or business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Winter weather conditions can cause branches to fall, which can cause damage to the property and even potentially cause personal injuries.
  • Roofs, water pipes, and gutters should all be regularly inspected to make certain that they are in proper condition. The gutter downspouts should be directed away from your building. Be sure to have your gutters cleared of debris. Have leaves regularly raked and blown?
  • Make sure any chimney and exhaust system are free of debris.
  • Test gas lines if they have been out of use to make sure they are in good working condition with no leaks.
  • Examine your property. Check walkways and parking lots for proper drainage or pooling after rainstorms.    
  • Take precautions to avoid pipes from freezing. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. When temperatures start to take a drop, let the cold water drip from the faucet. Never set your heat below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure all exterior pipes are properly insulated.
  • Ask your local SERVPRO Franchise about completing an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for your business. This no-cost assessment provides you with a plan to get your business back up and running faster after an emergency disaster.

Although we are not in control of the winter weather nor can we predict the future, it is always better to be prepared! Being prepared for a disaster will ensure that you are back up on your feet in a shorter period of time than if you did not have a plan. If you run a commercial business, get an Emergency Ready Profile set up as soon as possible and avoid the headache of not knowing what to do after a disaster strikes. Disaster stops for no one, so get ahead of it and have a plan set!

Rapid Response to Milton Fire Damage

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO vehicle in front of a Fire department building Local fire departments trust SERVPRO for fire damage cleanup and restoration after a fire. Milton homeowners can too.

SERVPRO Knows Fire Damage Recovery

We respect the urgency of a fire. As traumatic as these emergencies can be, they are also heavily destructive to building materials and contents. Successfully restoring a home after a fire loss incident means providing a suitable solution for common harm like:

  • Smoke
  • Soot particles
  • Water damage
  • Harsh malodors
  • Structural compromise

Milton fire damage can happen from multiple sources, so our SERVPRO team stays prepared to respond quickly to the call. The faster technicians reach damaged homes; the less widespread and threatening post-fire effects can be. 

Employing Emergency Services for Fire Damage 

Emergency services precede nearly all other steps in the fire restoration process, including the thorough inspection and detailed estimation necessary for claims approval. These earliest steps are critical in preventing continued damage to the structure and allow an easier transition to the needed restoration work to come. Focal points often include:

  • Air Filtration - with many airborne contaminants and particulates after a fire gets extinguished, we can provide a safer environment for recovery technicians with HEPA filtration air scrubbers trapping destructive smoke solids. 
  • Debris Removal - Ash, smoke solids, charred material remnants, and more make up the heaps of debris around the structure after a fire. Removing these piles reduces smoke residues and odors. 
  • Water Removal Services - To extinguish a structure fire, water is often necessary. High volumes of water can create a secondary concern of pooling and absorption for responding SERVPRO technicians to address. 

Content Cleaning Solutions

Personal belongings can be in the damage path of a spreading structure fire and continue to be threatened after extinguishment by soot, smoke, and other damages. There are multiple approaches to cleaning and restoring impacted personal belongings and contents. The first solution we provide is on-site relocation for items in harm's way but not yet damaged by smoke. Secondly, light damage can be managed on-site with surface cleaning products. SERVPRO professionals can relocate contents to our nearby warehouse for focused cleaning when more substantial damage exists.

Soot Removal Options for Residences

Soot and smoke residues present the most significant obstacle to successful fire damage recovery. The challenge lies in removing these soil deposits with minimal damage or disruption to the underlying substrate, which requires several approaches depending on the impacted elements. The objective of soot residue cleanup is minimal material replacement. Surface cleaning is the preferred method, using products to dissolve or emulsify soil deposits. 

Overcoming Lingering Fire Damage Odors 

After extinguishment, a challenging aspect of fire recovery is isolating the individual malodors and neutralizing them. Because hundreds of materials can be burned during a structure fire, the smell is often a combination of offensive scents. In addition, customers can also experience imaginary odors that result from the trauma of a structure fire and the belief that smoke odors are still present even if they have been addressed. Much of the deodorization process involves:

  • Fogging
  • Hydroxyl Machines
  • Ozone Generators
  • Counteractant Products

Full-Service Contractors to Help

One of the advantages of choosing our experienced SERVPRO team is the reconstruction experience we bring to the equation. With a general contractor license and years of repair and build-back experience following disasters, we have become a preferred insurance vendor in the area. Our rapid responders know what is needed to approve damage claims and can help with the earliest controlled demolition and temporary construction to a paintbrush's final stroke. 

You should not trust the restoration and recovery of Milton fire damage to just anyone. Our SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties team has experience and training as leading FSRT-Certified technicians throughout the Catskills and Hudson River areas. We are ready to mobilize to help when disaster strikes at (845) 791-7647.

Primary Principles of Restoring Milton Water Damage

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

water damage stains on a white ceiling Leaks can leave a path of water damage on your Milton property. SERVPRO is standing by to restore your home.

The Main Focal Points of Water Damage Restoration

Water emergencies must be approached with a sense of urgency to prevent the continued movement of moisture in the structure. Water follows the path of minimal resistance through a building to maintain a balance of temperature, pressure, and dampness. Several common triggers can cause the kind of damage that warrants professional cleanup, including: 

  • Spills
  • Leaks
  • Burst Pipes
  • Flooding
  • Broken Appliances

Milton water damage events are among the highest callouts for our professionals, making it a threat that we must stay dutifully prepared to face. Disasters do not wait for a convenient timeline to occur, so we keep WRT-Certified technicians and our inventory of cutting-edge equipment ready to mobilize 24/7 when needed. 

Early Mitigation Saves Money

There is merit in our fast response beyond providing some peace of mind to the customer that recovery has started. This also helps to reduce out-of-pocket expenses and restoration time by lessening the impacted area and focusing on salvageable materials. An early mitigative step is water removal, which alone can protect porous flooring materials when started soon after our professionals arrive. 

The Importance of Airflow 

One of the three main drying principles that must be balanced for efficient water damage recovery in the household is airflow. Air movement in a work area can promote direct evaporation of moisture on wet surfaces. There are several tools and devices capable of helping with moving air at a high volume. These include:

  • Centrifugal Air Movers - These high-velocity blowers target a specific portion of a wall or wet surface. They also come in a low-profile model suitable for infusing air through flood cuts in walls. 
  • Axial Air Movers - Axial units are more designed to cover a larger area with high volumes of air rather than targeting a smaller section of a wet surface.
  • Ventilation - Much of the issues that homes experience with natural drying and even the development of mold damage can be linked to insufficient ventilation. When necessary, we can evaluate these needs and take corrective measures to help the current project and future improved airflow. 

Manipulating Temperature for Drying

The warmth of the drying zone can manipulate several factors of the water damage drying process. Portable heaters are placed towards wet surfaces to combine with the airflow of centrifugal and axial air movers and promote:

  • Faster drying times
  • Improved chemical reactions
  • Less vapor barrier

Regulating Humidity 

Another focus of the responding technicians to promote efficient and thorough drying practices is the placement of dehumidification units. Desiccant and low-grain refrigerant models help reduce moisture grains in the environment and make the affected areas of the house less likely to promote mold growth and further structural deterioration. Evaporation by air movers creates more moisture for dehumidifiers to remove while increasing the temperature allows for a more significant moisture margin before becoming fully saturated.

Are Repairs Necessary? 

After emergencies, several water damage repairs are often needed, beginning with replacing the materials impacted by the damaging event. Repairing and restoring portions of the plumbing system that broke or burst, for example, prevents further water pooling and returns the use of the utility to the house. We must also reconstruct areas where controlled demolition removed construction materials and fixtures to allow for more focused drying and cleaning efforts to continue. 

Milton water damage incidents encompass a broad spectrum of scenarios that can leave your home contending with high volumes of water, a need for efficient drying, and effective damage repairs. Our full-service professionals can help. Give SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties a call when you need us at (845) 791-7647.

The Real Threats of Milton Mold Damage

9/6/2022 (Permalink)

mold damage on a white wall Contact our certified SERVPRO team to assess mold damage in your Milton home and complete remediation.

Mold Damage Requires Fast Action 

If you are unsure how mold can impact your home or business, you are not alone. Many property managers and families significantly undervalue the threat that mold presents to a structure and how quickly the organisms can move and spread. Ulster County homes should not hesitate to contact experienced professionals if they suspect mold might exist. Addressing these concerns can reduce:

  • Damage to the impacted structure
  • Persistent moisture concerns
  • Harsh odors
  • Continually spreading organisms

Because of how threatening Milton mold damage can be after discovery, it is vital to have a team of professional remediators mobilizing to help. With our state-of-the-art equipment and continued training, we are skilled responders that can begin mitigative steps and containment as soon as we first arrive.

Is Mold Damage Possible in Your House?

Even with its lower population, neighborhood homes and businesses are greatly influenced by the moisture and groundwater from the nearby Hudson River. Mold growth is likely to result from prolonged exposure to moist conditions in the basement, attic, or other house areas.

How Does Mold Move? 

Mold begins as microscopic particulates that circulate in the environment of each area in your house and outside. Spores can be released into the air and migrate through openings in the structure or pathways like the HVAC system to impact multiple areas simultaneously. Understanding this movement encourages our SERVPRO team to establish parameters of the work zone with HEPA filtration equipment and focus on containment.

What Types of Remediation Work Best?

Remediation is a combination of actions taken to remove active colonies. Naturally occurring mold spores are in nearly all environments, so we only act on these microorganisms when they have formed threatening colonies in the structure. With confirmed mold damage, we can choose among strategies like:

  • Surface Cleaning – This approach involves potent chemicals like antimicrobial products or inhibitors to eliminate spore activity on contact when colonies have not penetrated beyond the outermost layer.
  • Abrasive Tactics – When more invasive approaches are necessary, we can lean on sanding and media blasting techniques to eliminate set-in mold colonies.
  • Controlled Demolition – Demolition is one of the final measures considered for remediation and is an option when materials have become overwhelmed by intrusive colonies. 

Will Mold Damage Repairs Be Needed?

Because of how destructive mold can be to homes, determining the extent of repairs and reconstruction needed is often necessary. The value of being a reputable full-service contractor is our ability to manage complicated situations that require both remediation and build-back services. With controlled demolition being one of the methods to remediate active colonies, several materials like drywall must be replaced.

Lingering Mold Effects 

While SERVPRO can address many of the threatening aspects of mold development and colonization through the primary remediation phases and cleanup, some lingering effects can be a formidable obstacle for restorers. One of the more glaring concerns after surface cleaning is the residual musty odor in the house. Volatile organic compounds create harsh smells to accompany active mold development, making these scents worse the more concentrated the damage. Fogging and ozone are both direct approaches to resolving challenging malodors.

Milton mold damage is more of a threat to affected homes and businesses than occupants realize. Because spores can freely travel throughout the structure and form active colonies in moist environments, SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties team helps address the threat and repair any structural damages that allowed the initial moisture penetration. Give our experts a call today to help at (845) 791-7647.

Prompt Water Removal at a Milton Home with SERVPRO

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

Tarp on Roof Call your local professionals at SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties to ensure your home is dry and sanitary.

Repairing Water Damage from a Milton Roof Leak

Your home's plumbing system is a multiplex network of water supply pipes, vents, and drain pipes. Understanding a plumbing system's fundamentals helps better understand the problems that could occur. A well-designed system delivers water to the different faucets, fixtures, and appliances in your Milton home and efficiently carries away wastewater without clogs. However, the system may develop a malfunction leading to leakage.

The water removal process at Milton homes starts with the basics, like locating the problem and fixing the leak. Extraction methods depend on the size of the leak. You need to establish whether you are dealing with just damp floors or several inches of standing water. SERVPRO technicians have experience in managing any size of water loss and respond quickly to mitigate damage.

Common plumbing issues leading to leaks

  • Malfunctioning pipe joints
  • Corrosion buildup and damage in old water pipes
  • Bad seals around appliance line connections
  • Pipe overflows or bursts due to clogs and backups

Skilled plumbers help perform necessary repairs to get your plumbing system working well again. However, cleaning up after the leak and drying things out requires professional help as water can cause severe damage.

Extracting The Moisture

Mops or clean towels should be enough for flooded areas with just a little moisture exposure. However, suppose the leak has affected multiple rooms? In that case, specialized extraction equipment such as pumps may be necessary for water traveling from the upper to the lower level of your home.

Removing soaked carpets, furniture, and other detachable items from the flooded area is also part of the process. Depending on how much moisture they absorb, some items may be salvageable. Extracting the moisture alone does not mean the areas are completely dry. SERVPRO sets up dehumidifiers to draw the moisture out of the room.

Other water removal processes

  • Extraction with drying mats
  • Evaporation with air movers
  • Moisture control with drying chambers

SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties offers rapid and efficient water removal services. Call us at (845) 791-7647. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Do I Protect My Commercial Establishment after Water Damage?

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded Living Room Don't let your business suffer because of a water issue in your Monticello business. Call the professionals in SERVPRO to take care of it.

Business Owners with Water Damage in Monticello Should Call a Professional Cleanup Service

Protecting your Monticello business after water damage is essential to business continuity. Rather than addressing the damage yourself, it is best to resort to a professional service to remediate water issues in commercial buildings. Their expertise can help you minimize the time your business remains closed to customers or does not operate at total capacity.

For Monticello businesses in need of water cleanup services, SERVPRO is the answer. Our team is available around the clock to travel to your location and assess the damage. As we arrive, we begin by testing the water and its level of bacteria to preserve the safety and target any sanitizing and disinfecting needs.

Do I Need To Toss My Furniture After Water Damage?

Our SERVPRO crew helps you determine which items to keep and which to discard. Generally speaking, porous surfaces like upholstered furniture and curtains must be removed. Still, it depends on the microbes in the water. Any surface that we can salvage, we treat it with industry-grade techniques, for example:

  • Wet-dry vacuuming
  • Wand extractors
  • Foggers

SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties is at your service. We want to mitigate your loss of time and money. Call us at (845) 791-7647, whether you are in Monticello or Gardiner. Together, we can leave your establishment "Like it never even happened." 

Removing Dry Smoke Fire Damage in Milton Properties

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Engulfed Wall Let SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties fix it, Don’t stress it.

Special Practices for Fire Damage Removal 

The removal of smoke and fire loss effects after a disaster cannot happen quickly enough. Often, this process is stalled until the first responders are confident the structure fire gets extinguished. Once completed, SERVPRO professionals can arrive for mitigation solutions like: 

  • Temporary board up
  • Content relocation
  • Water removal
  • Debris removal
  • Air quality improvement

How is Dry Smoke Formed? 

Dry smoke is the product of high-heat fire damage to a Milton residence. Environmental conditions allow the flames to spread quickly throughout the structure and impact hundreds of contents and construction elements. What is left behind is a thin residue on non-burned surfaces and trapped odors in porous building materials. Dry smoke fires often have a high volume of needed controlled demolition. 

Can Dry Smoke Damage Get Cleaned?

Because of its thin and chalky residue left on surfaces, dry smoke is among the easiest potential soil deposits by a fire to be cleaned. The foundational piece of this cleanup is a dry chemical sponge. This rubbery handheld product crumbles as it attaches to soot solids, clearing the impacted surface and making the final step of cleanup collecting this debris.

What Are Other Types of Smoke Damage Removal?

Dry smoke is not the only threat to your home after a fire. Depending on environmental conditions and the materials combusted, homeowners could contend with oily residues, protein deposits, and wet smoke damage. Solvents, detergents, and alkaline cleaners can all be used to neutralize the destructive properties of these soil deposits and work to preserve the underlying material substrate.

Several types of smoke damage can threaten homes after a fire. While dry smoke can be among the easier of these conditions to clean in most cases, it is not without its challenges. Our SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties have suitable strategies to manage post-fire effects and make these losses "Like it never even happened." Call today at (845) 791-7647. 

What Should I do About My Flooded Basement?

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Sump Pump SERVPRO Says--Keep Your Sump Pump in Order to Help Prevent Flooding in Your Monticello Basement

When Your Basement Has Unwanted Water, Call a Professional Water Restoration Team like SERVPRO for Help

Heavy storms in Monticello can damage your neighborhood and your home. Even the most cautious homeowners stand to lose against rising water levels and torrential rain. When floodwater enters your home, calling a professional cleanup and restoration service is the best you can do to protect your health and home.

If you face storm damage in Monticello, call us at SERVPRO for assistance. Our team is available around the clock as we wear personal protective equipment and tour your home to assess the damage. With factual information in hand, we develop a specific plan of action to suit your needs.

What Are Dangers Of A Flooded Basement?

In our industry, floodwater is considered category 3, which means it carries biological and chemical waste that threatens your environment and family. With biohazard in mind, our team can connect sump pumps to sewage lines directly to dispose of extracted water safely. Other ancillary equipment which is necessary for a complete restoration include:

  • Submersible pumps complement the pumping efforts of sump pumps.
  • Industrial strength dehumidifiers to evaporate water
  • Injectidry equipment to push hot air within wall cavities as needed

Since groundwater is deemed Black Water, at times, it may be necessary to discard carpeting, some contents, and non-salvageable building materials like drywall or trim work.

Forgoing a professional service like SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties can invite more problems into your home. Call us at (845) 791-7647, whether you are in Milton or Gardiner. Our team will work with you and leave your home "Like it never even happened."

What Extractor Should I Use for My Milton Salon?

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

hand lifting wet carpet padding from floors Let SERVPRO mitigate your water damaged business in your Milton working district. Don't have no worries with the professionals at hand.

Removing Water from Your Salon Floor Requires Powerful Tools and Drying Techniques that Begin as Soon as Our SERVPRO Team Arrives

When severe water loss incidents impact your Miltonsalon, you want to resolve this situation as soon as possible. Standing water can destroy shelving, mounted chairs, and even stocked inventory of high-end hair products. 

Water Removal for Milton

Water removal for Milton businesses like your salon takes consideration and real-time decision making. Depending on the severity of the situation, various extractors and drying tools can get deployed. In many cases, electric submersible pumps can begin to help remove water until it reaches a shallow depth ideal for wet vacuums.

Can Water Get Under the Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is a commonly installed material for the primary flooring of your salon. Determining how this material becomes impacted after exposure involves several steps that thoroughly dry the structural element. These steps include:

Because so many depend on your salon to be open and active, trust the qualified professionals of our SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties team to get you back working as soon as possible. Give us a call today at (845) 299-8973.

Commercial Fire Damage Mitigation in Milton

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

pan on stove catching fire Commercial kitchens have an increased fire risk. SERVPRO knows how to minimize your commercial fire damage.

SERVPRO Can Help your Milton Business after a Fire

When it comes to structure fires, the number one cause is having an accident while cooking in the kitchen. When you own a restaurant and are in the business of serving food to customers, the risk gets higher. Even though commercial kitchens have different equipment and are better suited in case a blaze ignites, it is still possible a large fire could break out.

When our SERVPRO technicians work on restoring commercial fire damage in Milton, we find that even small fires that break out inside a restaurant's kitchen can cause excessive damage throughout the entire building. For example, smoke from a small grease fire can spread into your dining room and coat the surfaces of your chairs and tables with soot residues. When the smoke contacts your carpet, it can penetrate the fibers and cause burnt smells to linger.

Things we can do to return your business to its preloss state:

  • Fire & Water Damage Restorations
  • Smoke Remediation
  • Soot Residues Cleaning
  • Content Cleaning
  • Structural Deodorization
  • Fire Damage Debris Removal
  • Restorative Carpet Cleaning

After the fire in your restaurant gets extinguished, we can start our inspection process. First, we look for and mitigate any potential safety hazards. Next, we can conduct a wipe test throughout your building to determine where the smoke went and what methods will work best to remove them.

Once we figure out what types of soot residues covered your building materials and contents, we can use chemicals and methods to remove all soot residues from your affected surfaces. If foul aromas remain after all soot residues get cleaned, we can remove unpleasant odors by setting up a fogging machine or an ozone generator.

If you ever notice smoke residues in your dining room after a fire starts in your restaurant's kitchen, call SERVPRO of Sullivan and South Ulster Counties at (845) 791-7647.